1Samuel 1:1-28

Title: God rescues His people from the barrenness of godly leadership.

Proposition: Overcome the barrenness of godly leadership.

Introduction: Perception creates problems.

“Perception is everything.” I recently heard this said about the work of a large university’s Athletic Director. With so many responsibilities, and no doubt a glowing resume of leadership skills and accomplishments, this Director’s job is reduced to the public perception of himself and his department. Such a situation is a virtual breeding ground for all types of hypocrisy and deception. It takes a godly leader of great spiritual stature to live under the scrutiny of the public perception and maintain Scriptural convictions like those of this Athletic Director.

At every turn university athletic programs have the responsibility of dealing with competitive coaches, and athletes who can make or break the public persona of their institution. One cross word in a television interview will be replayed by millions all across our country. A slip of the temper in a highly publicized sporting event can cost millions in support dollars. With so much riding on the personal character of leading men and women it would seem the search for godly leaders would be first priority. Sadly many have prioritized a good public perception at any cost, so that what could have been a motivation for godly leaders has become a race to find the most clever, crafty, and deceptive individuals. “Perception is everything” has led our culture to an age of godless leaders who cater to a godless public that has determined to do whatever seems right in their own eyes.

There was a man, a woman at a well, a prodigal son, a field white unto harvest, water from a rock, or a burning bush. All statements that remind us of stories. We could just as easily say, “Once upon a time” and lead into any number of scenarios that would give us opportunity to explore multiple story lines. It just so happens that the above scenarios are beginnings to stories in the Bible, and each one has characters who find themselves in varying backdrops with some unfolding plot that usually teaches a moral, and more often points the reader to God. Our story begins during a period of history where God’s people were not mindful of His commands, and one man gave into the idea that “perception is everything”. Elkanah is the man in question and our story begins with the description of this man from a long line of men who finds himself without a man child to carry on the long tradition. Elkanah’s perception of himself revolves around having a son. Having hinged his identity within his culture to having a son Elkanah searches for any method that will bring success. His pragmatism leads to compromise, which sets the stage for an unfolding story about how God can provide godly leadership when through an obedient woman.

Introduce the Subject: Social climate of Israel (Judges 21:25)

“There was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25. Judges is a short history of how God’s people quickly fell into wickedness due to the lack of godly leadership. When there was a godly judge the people would call on the Lord. When each judge dies the people return to sin and fall into persecution. Toward the end of Judges there is no godly leader. Such was the situation when the loyalty of Ruth gives birth to the grandfather of King David. Many years later King David becomes one of the most godly kings in the Bible, uniting all of Israel, restoring a sense of respect for the tabernacle of God, writing many Psalms, and paving the way for a golden age in Israel’s history. Prior to David taking the throne as king was Saul. Before we ever see the exploits of King David, or Saul rise from obscurity to become the first king of Israel, we see the faith of another woman. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, and through her faithful prayer, and continued obedience came Samuel who began to turn the nation of Israel back to God. It was with Samuel that God began to provide godly leadership for His chosen people.

Without godly leadership any nation, organization, community, church, or home will fall into ruin. People in every walk of life need godly leadership to provide a clear vision of what God has ordained in His word. Israel was in desperate need of such leadership, but before we see Samuel bring about a national revival, and annoint a king we see his father attempting to lead his own home in the midst of a nation devoid of godly leadership.

“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Johu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.” 1Samuel 1:1

From this description we have little else to draw upon, but that Elkanah was from a long line of men. The perception of his family is that they produce men who carry on the bloodline. The accompanying expectation is that Elkanah will produce the next generation of men who will inherit the accomplishments of the previous generation. When the story picks up in the life of Elkanah we know little more than that he has married two women.

1. Compromise complicates the problem. 1:1-5

“And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” 1Samuel 1:2

Now Elkanah’s situation begins to take shape. He has come from a long line of proud fathers who produced sons. In keeping with that tradition he marries and settles down to enjoy fulfilling his part in the family history. Please keep in mind that although Elkanah has come from a well documented line of men, that he still lived under the influence of the verse from Judges we looked at earlier. The societal influence Elkanah attempted to lead his family through was not conducive to godly decisions. In fact, we have a very clear indicator that Elkanah was influenced by the culture when he compromises his first marriage relationship by marrying another woman that might produce a son. From verse two we see that Elkanah’s first wife (Hannah) was unable to produce any children, so he acquires a second wife. According to the culture having a second wife was acceptable, but Biblical history to that point discloses many pitfalls and troubles associated with multiplying wives as with Abraham, and Jacob. Since Elkanah’s primary concern was producing an heir, he compromises, ignores solid moral instruction, and follows the present culture in adding another wife to his home.

As is often the case when we choose to disobey God’s instructions, Elkanah quickly finds himself in another compromising position. The second wife, Peninnah, does produce children for Elkanah but disrupts the balance in his home, and disturbs his relationship with Hannah. According to verse 5 Elkanah gives a double portion to Hannah to prove that his love is greater for her than the new rival wife Peninnah. So we see that one decision to compromise does not solve anything, but rather complicates Elkanah’s situation and puts him in position to compromise further as he is now paying off Hannah in an attempt to keep her happy.

Illustration:

In the movie “Marley and Me” the main character is in a similar dilema as his wife begins to ask for children. Finding himself unprepared for the responsibilities of fatherhood he seeks out the advice of an unmarried friend who has no experience in dealing with a healthy marital relationship. The advice he receives is to buy her jewelry as that will surely distract her from the desire to have kids, which does not work. So the second piece of advice is to get his wife a puppy. They get a puppy and this time the compromise becomes a major point of conflict in his home for the rest of the movie. The moral? Compromise does not solve anything, it only complicates the problem.

2. Retaliation intensifies the problem. 1:6-7

Elkanah provides us with the trouble of choosing to compromise in the face of difficulty. There is another example in his house of how to deal with problems. Elkanah’s choice to get a second wife did produce heirs for him, but at what cost? He now had two wives to care for, and had to doubly bless Hannah to prove his love in spite of acquiring another wife. The other woman, Peninnah begins to notice her secondary position in Elkanah’s heart every year when the whole family goes to Shiloh for the annual offering. Peninnah is presented with an opportunity to show appreciation for Elkanah’s gifts, and grace to Hannah’s predicament. Rather, she chooses to take out her frustrations over her innability to win Elkanah’s heart by persecuting Hannah.

“And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the houe of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.” 1Samuel 1:6-7

Notice in the passage that Peninnah is Hannah’s “rival”, and as such provokes Hannah severely. Scripture makes it clear that Peninnah purposed to make Hannah miserable with the provocations, but no indicator is given as to what other plan was involved. Peninnah did not hope to promote her own situation within the home, or gain more favor with Elkanah. The provocations were born out of an envious heart, and served no further purpose than to trouble Hannah. Hatred is the motivation, and envy is fueling Peninnah’s retaliation. Such reckless retaliation cannot ever produce anything positive and will never please God.

Illustration:

In Ephesians chapter four Paul is giving instruction to the church concerning their conduct. They had to be reminded to: tell the truth, avoid holding grudges, and cease from stealing. In any situation of conflict resolution involving the issues Paul had addressed there is opportunity for flared tempers, and further complication. To avoid escalating what might already be a tenuous situation Paul advises the Ephesian believers to: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers”. Often when faced with a difficult person (like Peninnah) we are tempted to retaliate with words that attack the person, but never deal with solving problems. Peninnah obviously had issues of her own, but attacking her verbally at this point would not solve anything, but would definitely intensify the problems in the home. Hannah sets an amazing example in the narrative of holding her tongue, and waiting for a better solution. Those who have trusted Christ as Savior have a greater motivation, and encouragement for choosing our words wisely. Following the above statement from Ephesians 4:29 comes 4:30. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” So as the Believer chooses to control his tongue, and chooses words that edify and impart grace the power of the Holy Spirit is given room to work out the problem at hand, and delve deeper into lasting transformation.

When we choose to take retaliation into our own hands, we complicate the problem, attack the person, and limit the Holy Spirit’s willingness to bring about healing and resolution. Retaliation is a slippery slope that can cause great harm to the individual, and destroys hope of redemption. So we see that retaliation has only served to trouble the husband, distance the second wife, and grieve the one who is already without help. Hannah could not change her situation, and to this point in the passage found no help. So she takes the position of mourning, and humility that delights the heart of God.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6-10

We now come to the turning point in the story, where Hannah begins to call upon the Lord for help. Would that all such provocation would drive people to their knees in prayer. If we had more prayer and less fleshly retaliation, we would undoubtedly see the manifest presence of Holy Spirit at work to transform lost humanity into sons and daughters of God.